Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Burgos Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Burgos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,463 in Burgos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,158 in Burgos, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,852 in Burgos, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 12% cheaper than Burgos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Burgos is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$13.98 €11.97
-14.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$57.3 €49.04
-25.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$9.37 €8.02
13.02%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$1.85 €1.58
95.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$2.36 €2.02
-37.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$1.52 €1.30
-38.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$3.51 €3.00
-11.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.29 €1.96
94.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.25 €1.07
14.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.24 €1.06
51.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$2.26 €1.93
-27.88%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$2.50 €2.14
5.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$19.82 €16.97
-58.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$6.79 €5.81
22.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$15.26 €13.06
-27.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.96 €1.68
35.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.55 €1.33
-3.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.70 €1.45
17.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.85 €2.44
-27.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$1.43 €1.23
25.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$2.16 €1.85
0.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.02 €0.88
5.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.72 €0.62
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$8.18 €7.00
-51.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$7.17 €6.13
42.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.19 €1.02
45.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.35 €1.16
85.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$1.43 €1.22
-63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$25.77 €22.06
4.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$2.91 €2.49
7.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.01 €0.87
137.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$23.59 €20.20
-86.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.90 €1.63
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$39.0K €33.4K
-20.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$28.5K €24.4K
-18.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$126 €108
-35.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$22.79 €19.51
-1.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$22.87 €19.58
29.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$43.49 €37.23
19.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$11.00 €9.42
69.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$8.15 €6.98
-39.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$458 €392
-56.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$6,963 €5,961
-24.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$111 €95.1
-67.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$36.44 €31.20
9.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$64.4 €55.2
24.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$162 €139
-45.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$754 €646
27.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$554 €474
-16.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$1,031 €882
54.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$769 €658
57.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$2,354 €2,015
67.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$2,147 €1,838
200.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Burgos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$2,104 €1,801
-65.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
3.5
226.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Burgos: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $754 in Burgos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 192% higher in Burgos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $57.0 in Burgos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $268 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Playa del Carmen vs Burgos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Burgos?
Burgos costs about 14% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Burgos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,195 in Burgos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Burgos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Burgos?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $57.0 in Burgos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Burgos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,463 in Burgos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Burgos?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Burgos at $1,463. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burgos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Burgos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $1,463 in Burgos. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Burgos?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Burgos?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burgos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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